Raising Beast Cubs to Find a Husband-Chapter 52: The Fox, The Bunny, and The Trap

The last rays of the sun were fading, casting long, orange shadows across the floor of the daycare.

Luna sighed, wiping the counter for the tenth time. She had sent Clover home early with one of the royal guards (courtesy of Rurik), wanting to finish the inventory alone.

The silence was heavy. Without the chaotic energy of the Cubs or the commanding presence of the Dads, the shop felt too big. Too empty.

"Inventory check," Luna whispered to herself, ticking a box on her clipboard. "Flour: low. Sugar: adequate."

She locked the front door, the click echoing loudly. She leaned her forehead against the cool glass, her long bunny ears drooping.

"I hope I can do this, Prim," she murmured. "I hope I don’t let you down."

"You look like you’re mourning a carrot."

Luna shrieked, jumping a foot in the air. She spun around, her heart hammering against her ribs.

Jax was leaning against the kitchen doorframe.

He looked effortlessly cool, as always. He wore a loose white shirt with the sleeves rolled up, revealing lean, scarred forearms. His messy orange hair fell over his eyes, and his fox ears twitched with amusement. His bushy tail swished lazily behind him. He was handsome in that dangerous, street-smart way that made Luna’s knees feel like jelly.

"Jax!" Luna gasped, putting a hand over her heart. "You... you can’t just appear like that! I have a prey instinct, you know! I could have died of fright!"

"Unlikely," Jax grinned, walking toward her with a slow, predatory grace. "You’re tougher than you look, Carrots. Besides, the door was locked. I came in through the window."

"That’s breaking and entering!"

"It’s surprise visiting," he corrected, stopping right in front of her. He leaned down, his green eyes sparkling with mischief. "Why the long face? You’re the Boss Bunny now. You should be strutting, not sulking."

Luna looked down at her clipboard. "I’m not sulking. I’m... worried."

"Worried about what?"

"Everything," Luna admitted, her voice small. "Primrose left me in charge. But... look at this place. It’s protected by Warlords. It’s targeted by enemies. What if something happens? What if I’m not strong enough to protect it?"

Jax’s smile softened. The teasing light in his eyes faded, replaced by something warmer.

He reached out, tucking a strand of silver hair behind her long ear.

"Hey," Jax said softly. "Look at me."

Luna looked up.

"You’re doing great," Jax said, his voice low and sincere. "You organized the chaos today. That’s not weak, Luna. That’s power."

Luna blinked, feeling a flush rise to her cheeks. "You think so?"

"I know so," Jax murmured.

He moved closer. The air between them suddenly felt very thin.

Jax didn’t step back. Instead, he slid his hand from her ear down to her waist, pulling her gently against him. He was warm—solid and grounding. He smelled of pine, city rain, and trouble.

"Jax..." Luna breathed, her hands resting nervously on his chest.

"You’re amazing, Luna," Jax whispered, leaning in until his nose brushed hers. "And you look really cute when you’re trying to be bossy."

He tilted his head, his lips hovering inches from hers. The tension was electric. It was steamy. It was everything Luna had secretly daydreamed about.

But her brain slammed on the brakes.

"Wait!"

Luna placed both hands firmly on his chest and pushed.

Jax stopped instantly, though he didn’t let go of her waist. He looked confused. "What’s wrong?"

"We... we can’t," Luna stammered, looking away. "We aren’t... established. We haven’t defined the parameters of this interaction! Doing something like that without a clear agreement is... improper!"

Jax blinked. Then he threw his head back and laughed. "Parameters? Did you swallow a dictionary, Carrots?"

"I’m serious!" Luna squeaked. "Are we friends? Or... or..."

Jax stopped laughing. He looked at her with intense focus.

"Do you like me?" he asked bluntly.

Luna’s eyes went wide. "What?"

"Do you like me?" Jax repeated, stepping closer again. "Yes or no."

"Yes!" the answer flew out of her mouth before she could stop it.

Jax grinned—a slow, satisfied, wolfish grin.

"Good," he purred, leaning down. "Because I like you too, Luna. I’m crazy about you."

Luna’s heart did a triple backflip. He likes me. The cool Fox likes the boring Bunny.

Jax took this as permission. He moved his hand up her back, his touch sending shivers through her fur. He leaned in again, aiming for a kiss that promised to be much less innocent than the last attempt.

Luna panicked. It was too much, too fast, too wonderful.

She surged up on her tiptoes, planted a quick, wet peck on his cheek—mwah!—and ducked under his arm.

"OkaybyeJaxseeuouthere!" she yelled in one breath.

She grabbed her bag and sprinted out the back door, her ears burning red.

Jax stood alone in the dim bakery, his hand touching his cheek where she had kissed him.

For a moment, he just stood there, a genuine, dopey smile on his face. The cynical street fox looked like a lovestruck teenager.

"Cute," a rasping voice echoed from the shadows.

Jax’s smile vanished instantly. His face went cold. His ears flattened against his skull.

He didn’t turn around. "You’re late."

Two figures stepped out from the darkness of the storage room.

The first was Gnash, a Hyena-kin. He was hunched and jittery, with mange-spotted fur and a jaw that looked strong enough to crush bone. He was chewing on a toothpick, giggling softly to himself.

The second was Krackle, a Vulture-kin. He was tall, gaunt, and bald, wearing a ragged black cloak that smelled of rot. His beak was hooked and cruel.

"Playing lover with a dumb bunny," Gnash cackled, dragging a claw across the countertop. "Is that what the Boss asked you to do? Is seduction part of the mission plan?"

Jax turned slowly. His green eyes were dead flat. The charm was gone.

"I am working the angle," Jax lied smoothly. "She has the keys. She trusts me. That makes the job easier."

"You’re taking too long," Krackle hissed, his voice like dry paper rubbing together. "The Boss is impatient. The Fox Chef is gone. The bakery is vulnerable. Why is it still standing?"

Jax leaned against the counter, crossing his arms. "Do you see who hangs out here? The Wolf Lord. The General. The Archduke. Do you think it is easy to destroy a place protected by the four most powerful men in the Empire? If I blow it up while they’re inside, I’m dead."

"Excuses," Gnash spat. "You’re soft, Jax. You like playing house with the heroes."

"I am not soft," Jax snarled, baring his fangs. "I am careful. That is why I am still alive and you two are still eating garbage."

Krackle stepped forward. He pulled a small object from his pocket. It was a small, patched cap.

Jax froze. He recognized it.

It belonged to his little brother, Finn.

"Do it fast, Fox Boy," Krackle whispered, dangling the cap. "Or else your brother gets it. The Boss says he’s tired of just feeding him... And you know how much the boss loves little kids."

Jax’s hands clenched into fists so tight his nails drew blood from his own palms. The image of Luna’s smiling face flashed in his mind—and then was replaced by the image of his little brother in a cage.

He looked at the Hyena and the Vulture with pure hatred.

"I’ll do it," Jax said, his voice hollow. "Tell the Boss... Little Whiskers will fall within the week."

"Good boy," Gnash laughed.

The two thugs melted back into the shadows, leaving Jax alone in the silent bakery.

He looked at the spot where Luna had stood. He touched his cheek again.

"I’m sorry, Luna," Jax whispered to the empty room.

He blew out the candle, plunging the shop into darkness.